by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

Adrian Peterson discovered his Kryptonite during Minnesota Vikings training camp last summer when a little shrimp buckled the ultra-tough 2012 league MVP the way no hulking defender ever has.

"I thought I was Superman until I experienced that life-changing anaphylactic shock,'' Peterson told USA TODAY Sports about his life-threatening allergic scare. "I was eating lunch and gobbled down a couple of bowls of gumbo.

Even amid the scariest moment of his life with his throat closing, Peterson had the presence of mind to make the right move. He called Vikings trainer Eric Sugerman and rasped into his cell phone how something was very wrong in what was fast becoming a critical situation.

"I'm normally pretty good under pressure so I stayed calm, didn't panic too much and just called to get the help I knew I needed,'' Peterson said.

Sugerman raced to Peterson's Mankato State University dormitory room and injected Peterson with an EpiPen, enabling him to breathe better while he was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Clearly, Peterson showed no ill effects last season from his scare. But the experience caused him to do more research and as a result, he decided to partner with Mylan Specialty L.P. - maker of the EpiPen auto injector that saved him - as a spokesman for an Anaphlaxis Preparedness Campaign.

Anaphylaxis may affect up to 43 million Americans. Children are among the most at risk for anaphylaxis with an estimated one in 12 in the United States suffering from a food allergy.

Peterson carries two EpiPens with him at all times to combat any mistaken exposure to his allergic triggers.

"It's a serious situation and it's pretty common across the world,'' Peterson said. "A lot of people can learn from my scare. Seafood was always my favorite food. I mean fried lobster? Come on.

"Once I found out shrimp, scallops and lobster were my allergic triggers, I had to change my diet.''

Peterson has become something of a medical miracle man for his remarkable recovery from a shredded anterior cruciate ligament suffered on Christmas Eve 2011 when he not only returned for the start of the 2012 season, he was better than ever - rushing for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns in leading the Vikings to the playoffs.

He's served as an inspirational sounding board to such young stars as Robert Griffin III, Brian Cushing and Darrelle Revis in their 2013 comeback bids from anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions.

"I'm cool with that role,'' Peterson said. "It makes me feel good knowing I set the bar high.

"It feels good when guys reach out to be inspired - and you have shown people an example of how you can come back and be better than you were before when adversity strikes; and when the world predicts the opposite, you show them you not only can be successful but be great.''

Peterson told RG3 straight up, 'You're not me.''

Nonetheless, Peterson is convinced after talking with RG3 that the dazzling Washington Redskins quarterback will achieve his target date of returning for Washington's Sept. 9 season opener.

"RG3's confidence level is where mine was at and I think he'll be back Week 1 and each week, he'll get stronger,'' Peterson said. "I have a lot of confidence in the young guy.

"I've been with him a couple of times. And judging by how he approached his rookie year, if he continues taking that same strong mindset and applies it to his rehab, he'll do better this season than last. I'm pulling for him.''

The same goes for Houston Texans linebacker Cushing and Revis, the former New York Jet traded before the draft to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

As for Peterson's 2013 goals?

He has two:

Hoisting a Lombardi Trophy and becoming the first tailback in league history to rush for 2,000 yards in consecutive seasons.

"Obviously, the first goal is to win a championship,'' Peterson said. "I would sacrifice 1,000 yards rushing to win a Super Bowl. But I want to be the first back to have back to back 2,000-yard seasons."

But what about another MVP award?

"I felt good winning league MVP. But guess what? My team didn't win the MVP. That Lombardi Trophy is something you can remember and share forever with your teammates.''